Ship loader or unloader.



- B. H. ALVEY.

SHIP LOADER 0R UNLOADER.

APPLICATION FILED OCT-14, 19I0. 1,156,653. Patented Oct. 12, 1915.

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COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH c0., WASHINGTON. D. c.

B. H. ALVEY.

SHIP LOADER 0R UNLOADER.

APPLICATION FILED OCT- 14. 19m.

Patented Oct. 12, 1915.

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' \56' a 55 F 2 0 V// 47 d I COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH COWWASHINGTON. D. C.

B. H. ALVEY.

SHIP LOADER 0R UNLOADER.

APPLICATION FILED on. H.

Patented Oct. 12, 1915.

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ll'il B. H. ALVEY.

SHIP LOADER 0R U NLOADER.

- APPLICATION FILED OCT-14, 1910. 1,156,653. Patented 001:. 12, 1915.

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SHIP LOADER 0R UNLOADER.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 14, 1910. 7 1,156,653. Patented Och-12,1915.

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coumniA PLANOGIAPN cu.,wumm'rmd. D.c.

B. H. ALVEY.

SHIP LOADER QR UNLOADER.

APPLICATION FILED on. 14, 1910.

' 1,156,653. Patented Oct. 12, 1915.

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B. H. ALVEY.

SHIP LOADER 0R UNLOADER.

APPLICATION HLYED 0CT.14, 1910.

1,156,653. Patented Oct. 12 1915.

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COLUMBIA PLANDCIRAPH c0 WASHINGTON. D. c.

B. H. ALVEY.

SHIP LOADER OR UNLOADER.

APPLICATION FILED OCT-14. 1910.

Patented Oct. 12, 1915.

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BENJAMIN I-I. ALVEY, 0F ELIZABETI-ITOWN, KENTUCKY.

SHIP LOADER on UN oADEa.

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN H. AL-

VEY, acitizen of the United States, residing at Elizabethtown, in thecounty of Hardin This invention relates to a mechanism for loading andunloading ships, and consists in certain peculiarities in theconstruction of parts and in certain novel combinations and arrangementsof elements substantially as hereinafter described and par pointed outin the subjoined claims.

The ultimate object of the invention is to provide a conveying systemfor loading and unloading vessels, which will be most simple andpractical in its construction and will accomplish its purpose in amostsatisfactory manner and with a minimum of expense for I g 1 Iloading platform, showing also the carrier manual attendance-or work.

Among the other purposes offthe invention, are: First: the provision'ofa means;

for loading and unloadingships which comprises receiving or loading anddischarging or unloadingiplatforms and a traveling carrier, socorrelated thatthey will operate togetherand to perform their respectivefunctions regardless of the various relative movements of the ship andthe dock, barge, lighter or the like to or from which the ship is beingunloaded o'r'loaded, which movements are due, for example, to tides,waves and the changing of the weight of the'load.

Second: To provide means of a'most desir able form for delivering thepackages to the receiving section of the conveyer. Third: To providemeans of most desirable form for taking thepackages from the dischargingsection of the conveyer. Fourth: To provide a most efficient drivingmechanism for the carriers. 7

These and other lmportant several purposes of the invention, Which willhereinafter fully appear, are well. accomplished by the constructionillustrated in the accompanying drawings to exemplify what is nowregarded to be the best embodiment thereof, but to the details of whichthe invention, considered in its broader aspects, is not restricted, asmany changes may be made therein and. the important features of theinvention embodied in many apparently widely diiferentme'ans withoutdeparting Specification of Letters Patent.

ticularly from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoinedclaims.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation somewhat diagrammaticallyrepresented, of'a system embodying the present improvements arranged forloading vessels from a dock. Fig.2 is a like view of the system'withtheelements arranged for unload ing vessels to a dock. F 3 is a view ona largerscale showing inside elevation the endless travelingelements,the means for Patented Oct. 12, 1915. v V 0 Application filed0ctober-14, 1910. .Serial-1\To.5 8 7,098. I I

applying power thereto and the frame for supporting the same. Fig. 4: isan end elevation of the same parts. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the sameend of the machine, with the motor omitted. Fig. 6 is a side elevationof the opposite end of the frame and the sprockets and chains thereat,Fig. 7 is an endview of this end of the frame and travelingelements,Fig. 8 is a plan view of the'same. Fig. 9 is a plan'view of the chains,said carrier-chains being represented in section. Fig. 10 is a detailrepresentation of the receiving end of themachine when the latter isemployed for loading vessels, the loading platform being shown asmounted on a dock and with one end thereof in section to disclose partswhich otherwise i would be concealed.- Fig. 11 is a-detail rep:resentation in side elevation with a part broken away, of the receivingor loading end of the machine, without the'loading platform. Fig. 12 isa front elevation of the same parts. 13 is a detail representa tion, inside elevation of the'unloading end of'the machine. Fig. 1 1 is a frontelevation of the same parts. Fig. 15 is a section on the line, 15-15 ofFig. 11. Fig. 16 is a section on the line 16-16 of Fig. 13.

Similar characters of'reference designate corresponding parts in theseveral views.

The present system comprises traveling package-conveying means,preferably COIl'l-j posed of a pair of endless travelingchains A and B,of a suitable type, roller or otherwise as desired, spaced apart andprovided with suitable carriers, as C, which are'pivotally suspendedtherefrom so as'to-always hang in a vertical direction. This conveying.means is guided to provide what may be referred to as three sections,marked 100,200 and 300 respectively, in Figs. land 2; The section v100runs over the/deck V of the vessel V,

thereof. The other sections depend from the ends of the section 100, oneof the same extending into the hold, through said hatchway and the otherrunning downward along. side the vessel and into proper position withrespect to the dock W, or a barge, lighter or the like, from or to whichthe vessel is being loaded or unloaded. One of these depending sectionsis freely suspended, that is to say, it is free from any support frombelow. The sect on upon which the packages are deposited, forconveyance, hereinafter called the receiving section, is marked 200,while the other, hereinafter termed the discharging section, is marked300. In Fig. 1 the receiv-. ing section is shown as being the one nearthe dock, and the discharging section is in the'hold 0f the vessel, thisfigure showing the system arranged for loading vessels: while in Fig. 2the receiving section is in the hold and the discharging section is op-'eratively related to the dock, this figure showing the parts arrangedfor unloading vessels.

The intermediate section 100 is supported, preferably throughout itslength, by a suitable frame, marked D, which is carried by the vessel.This frame is formed preferably of suitably arranged angle irons, or isotherwise suitably provided with means forming runways or channels 20,20 for the upper and lower runs a and a respectively of the chain A andsimilar runways or channels 21, 21 for the upper and lower runs 6 and b,respectively, of the chain B. lit also is formed to provide support forthe driving mechanism and certain elements of the chain-directing means.

The driving mechanism referred to is preferably located at the end ofthe frame adjacent to the hatchway and said frame is preferably arrangedto incline downward from said end to its other end, which latter isarranged beyond the vertical plane of the side of the vessel, as shownin Figs. 1 and 2.

My experiments have disclosed the need among other things, of acorrelation of parts which will prevent the piling up of the chains ateither head and for causing both 7 the working and returning runs of thechains to work smoothly and uniformly at all times. I have found thatwhen the power is applied directly to one run of the chain only, whetherthis be the working run or the returning run, there is a very pronouncedtendency for the chain to become slack or to pile up at one or the otherhead. I have also. found that when the weight of the package beingcarried by the depending sec tions of the carrier is wholly at one sideof the vertical plane of said sections, the chain becomes kinked byreason of this eccentric loading. It being obviously important thatloaders of this character shall run smoothly and uniformly, withoutslack, kinking or piling up of the chain at either head, I have'provided, among other things, a doublethe spirit of the invention orthe scope of f the subjoined claims, it being essential, however, as tothis part of the invention whether the traveler consist of a singlechain or two chains with carriers suspended between them, the latterbeing preferredthat the power shall be applied directly to both theworking and returning runs of the traveler, simultaneously, in reversedirections and at approximately the same speed, by means of separategears which respectively engage the working and returning runs of thetraveler and are driven from a common shaft through the intervention ofseparate appropriate gearings.

Referring now to the particular driving mechanism illustrated I providefor the lower runs a and bof the chains A and B a pair of sprockets 32and 33 which respectively engage said runs, and for the upper runs a andb of the chains 1 provide a similar pair of sprockets 42 and 43. llhesesprockets are preferably arranged at the upper ends of the dependingsections of the chains. The sprockets 32 and 33 are fixed to separatestub shafts 28 and 29 and the sprockets 42 and 43 similarly are fixed toseparate stub shafts 34 and 35 respectively. 25 designates a commondriving shaft. This shaft 25 extends across the frame of the conveyerand is provided with a pair of gears 26 and 27 which are fixed to it andare directly intermeshed with, gears 30 and 31 respectively fixed to thestub shafts 28 and 29, whereby movement is imparted to the lattershafts, and consequently to the sprocket wheels 32 and 33 and lower runsa and 7), in a direction the reverse of that of the driving shaft 25.The means for transmitting movement from the shaft 25 to the stub shafts34 and. 35, which carry the sprockets 42 and 43, comprise a pair ofgears 40 and, 41 fixed to the shaft 25, sprockets 36 and 37 fixed to thestub shafts 34 and 35 and chains 30 and 31 respectively connecting thesprocket .36 to the sprocket 40 and the sprocket 37 to the sprocket 41,whereby the stub shafts 34 and 35, and consequently the gears 42 and 43and the upperruns a and 7) of the traveling chains, are driven from theshaft 25 and in the same direction as the the latter.

ing the shaft 25 comprises an electric motor M, sprockets 44 and 45 andchain 46.

At the other end ofthe frame 1) are suit ably supported idler sprockets17 and 48 for engaging the upper runs a and b of the chains and similaridler sprockets 19 and 50 for engaging the lower runs a and b of saidchains. the motion of the chains at the junctions of the receivingsections 200, or 300, and the section 100. a 1

51 and 52 designate idler sprockets which engage the'chains A and B,respectively, of the receiving section 200 and direct the motion of thesame from their working to their returning runs: and 53 and 54Cdesignate idler sprockets which engage said chainsof the dischargingsection 300 and similarly direct the motion of the same from theirworking to their returning runs.

Assuming that the system is being used for loading vessels, as shown inFig. 1, it

will be apparent that the working run of the endless traveling means,passes from. the sprockets 51 and 52, in an upward direction, andtravels in front of the dock W where the carriers C as they successivelyrise receive their loads X and that this working run thence travels overthe sprockets 4:7 and 48, along the channels or runways 20 and 21 overthe sprockets l2 and 4.3 to which power is applied as hereinbeforestated, thence downward through the hatchway and into the hold of thevessel and around the sprockets 53 and 5%, adjacent to which the load isdischarged from each carrier, thence returning to the sprockets 51 and52, by traveling upward within the hold, over the sprockets 32 and 33,which, as already stated, form driving sprockets for the lower runs ofthe chains, being positively driven from the motor, thence alongthe-lower runways or channels 20 and 21 and over the sprockets 4:9 and50 and down to the sprockets 51 and 52, thus completing the circuit.

When the system is arranged for unloading vessels, the sections 200 and300 are transposed, the receiving section 200 being placed in thehold ofthe vessel and the discharging section 300 in suitable operativerelation with the dock, barge, lighter or other thing which receives theload from the vessel, as shown in Fig. 2. This transposition may beeffected by disconnecting appropriate links of the chains from each,

other and reconnecting the links with each of said sections in the placeformerly occu-. pied by the other, for example. This arrangement isshown in Fig. 2, upon reference to which it will be seenthat the'travelThe illustrated means for driv- These idler sprockets direct of thechains is precisely as before, but, ob-

viously, the correlati 11. of parts may be such,

if considered"expedient, that the direction oftravel of the chains whenunloading a vessel will be. the reverse of their travel dock, barge,lighter, or the like, is constantly changing, due in large part towa'ves,,tides,

and variation inlthe load. It is therefore, essential toa most highlypractical construction of loader or unloader that the elementsautomatically so accommodate themselves to the various relativepositions of the vessel and the dock, barge,'or lighter, that theiroperative relations will not be destroyed by any movements of the vesselor of the dock, barge or lighter, or of both the vessel and the art fromor to which it is being loaded or unloaded. Itwill be noted inthisconnection that the receiving section 200' is freely suspended, andhence is free to rise and fall with the vessel. It also has meanswhereby it is maintained under tension and means whereby it ismaintained in approximately parallel position with the side of thevessel. The discharging section 300 may also be freely suspended ifdesired. The means devised by ,me for accomplishing these purposes, andpreferably employed,

' which means also include important loading and unloading features orelements will now be set forth. I

E designates a frame adapted to support theshaft 55 which carries thesprockets 51 and 52 and serves to add to the weight im'- the lowercircumment withthe teeth ofthesprockets. These guides are preferablycarried by arms 62.

from the, standard 59 and are braced by arms orrods: 63, extendindiagonally in opposite directions therefrom to the frame As shown mostclearly 111F1,Q. 12, the guides are preferably formed of angle irons.Above thls frame is a; loading platform F.

Inthe herein exemplified form of the in-' vention, this platform isshown as mounted upon a dock TV having an elevated platform whichextends -longitudinally thereof and has its top on a level with thedoors of cars, marked Y, so as to permit the transshipment of packagesdirectly from the cars to the vessel.

The floor of the dock and the top of its platform are shown in Fig. 10,as cut away adjacent to the platform F to permit the section 200 of theconveyor to pass therethrough toward or into the water: but, if desired,said section may be arranged in front of the edge of the dock, as shownin Fig. 1. This platform F is free to be moved back and forth andlaterally on the dock, barge, lighter or other support therefor, fromwhich the vessel is being loaded and it extends over the edge of itssaid support and to the side of the vessel. It consists of an openframe, or is otherwise formed to provide passages, through which thetraveling elements of the conveyer move, said frame having means forsupporting the packages in the path of the carriers (1, so related tothe latter as to permit the packages to be picked up by the carriers,and also having means for restricting relative movements of thetraveling elements of the conveyer and platform in directions and to anextent which would destroy the operative relation of the parts, or causerupture or breakage. The form herein GXGIllDllfixCl is provided withguides 64: and 65 for the chain A and with other guides 66 and 67 forthe chain B, these guides being so related to the chains as to restrictrelative movement between the chains and the platform in the directionof the length of the latter, while the sides of said platform willsimilarly restrict relative movement between the chains and the platformin a direction transverse of the latter to within safe limits.

The carriers C are, as shown best in Fig. 4, preferably each of the typecomprising a pair of side arms 71 and 72 whose upper ends are pivotallvconnected to the chains A'and B, respectively, and whose lower ends areconnected by a cross bar 73 from which a series of fingers 7a, of size,shape and strength adapted to support the packages to be conveyed,project in opposite directions. This construction among others of itsadvantages avoids eccentric loading of the chains and consequent kinkingof the same. The means of the platform F preferred for supporting thepackages in the path of these carriers, shown best-in Figs. 9 and 10,comprise a plurality of arms 75 and a second plurality of arms 76,arranged on opposite sides of the path of travel of the bar 73 carriedby the rising run of the chains A and B.

The arms project toward the arms 7 6 and said arms are preferablyarranged in positions to alternate with the fingers 7 4. Thus,

they do notinterfere with the free movement of the traveling elements ofthe conveyer, and packages placed on them and supported partly by oneset of arms 75 and partly by the other set of arms 76 are picked up bysaid fingers 74.

The arms 7 5 and 76 are preferably mounted so as to incline downward andto be yieldable upward. Tn the exemplified embodiment of the invention,the arms 75 have their outer ends pivotally mounted on a cross shaft 77and the arms 7 6 have their outer ends similarly pivotally mounted on across shaft 78. If from any cause an upward strain is imposed on thesearms while a package is on the same they will ield thereto and if arising carrier be contiguous to them at this time they will still becapable of depositing the package on the latter. They are preferablyreturned by gravity, but springs or other suitable means may be used forthis purpose, if desired. Each of these, arms is preferably made ofangle iron with a base flange 79, cut away near its free end or front,as shown at 80 and with the free ends of its package-engaging member 81formed with an outwardly beveled under edge 82. Transverse su portingbars 83 and 84L are arranged to engage the arms near their free ends andsupport them against v nature which is rolled upon the arms, barrels forexample, serving to restrict their inward movement to within a safelimit.

These stops are herein shown as supported by the cross bar 8st. Thechain guides 64, 65,

66 and 67 preferably have their walls beveled, as shown best in Fig. 10,to provide expanded inlets and outlets and to guide the chain to itsproper position between the same. I

The platform is provided with a suitable tackle whose blocks or pulleysare marked 9 and whose ropes are marked 9, by which it may be raised andlowered from and to its place, and adjusted as hereinafter more fullyexplained.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that as the section 200 of theconveyor is free from attachment to the dock, it is free to follow therising and falling movements of the vessel and to sink deeper into orrise above the water, and that as it is also free from attachment to theloading platform F the position of the latter is not varied by therising and falling movements of said section 200 and remains at a heightconvenient for the stevedore to place thereon the package which is to bedelivered by it to a carrier C. Again, it will be noted that theplatform is free to move laterally and back and forth with said section200. Again, any

back and forth and lateral movements of the loading platform beyondpredetermined limits are communicated to the section 200. Thus, properoperative relation of the loading platform and the section 200 isnormally maintained, but should these parts assume a relative positionwhich causes binding of the chain on the platform and lifting of thelatter, this may be corrected by adjusting the platform to its properposition, by means of the tackle hereinbefore' referred to. Itsengagement with the vessels side is preferably of a nature which willact to brace the platform against downward movement under the weight ofthe package imposed thereon. To this end it is preferably provided witha suitable number of depending brackets f, each here shown as having amember 86 of such length and so positioned as to provide an effectivebearing against the side of the vessel, and braced by an inclined member87 and other members 88 and 89 between the members 86 and 87.

The delivering section 300 of the conveyer may be either fixed againstrising and falling movements relatively to the vessel or freelysuspended to have such movement. It preferably, however, is free fromsupport from below, as shown in Fig. 1, whereby it will hang verticallyat all times, regardless of listing and other movements of the vessel.Its sprockets 53 and 54 are fixed on a shaft 55 which has its journalsin bearings 9O which in the herein exemplified form of the invention arecarried by standards 91 rising from a base 92. This base, if thedischarging section be freely suspended forms a weight which will assistthe weight ofthe sprockets and shaft in taking up slack in this sectionof the conveyer. Otherwise, it forms a convenient device to rest uponand support the sprockets from' a suitable sup port, as the floor of thehold of a'vessel or doek, or the deck of a barge or lighter,'forexample. Areal guides 93 for the chains,

are preferably provided adjacent to the sprockets. Those shown aresimilar to the guides marked and 61, of the frame E and hence they needno further description. They are shown as supported from the base 92 bydiagonal members 94.

Associated with the delivering section 300 is an unloading platform-which may be and preferably is, as herein shown, carried by or formedin part of the frame which supports the sprockets 53 and 54. Thisunloading platform is provided with means which are arranged below suchsprockets in such position that the descending carriers as theysuccessively approach the delivering station'are tilted to deposit thepackages onto a suitable receiver. Inthe herein exemplified form, thereceiver referred to is a runway or skid formed of separate spacedinclined bars 95, but any suitable construe tion or form of skid orgravity conveyer, or other suitable, means for recelvmg the pack- 7 agesfrom the delivering leg may be employed. Rearward of the bars 95 areother bars 95 "A space, marked 96, is left between the ends ofthe bars95 and 95, and the carriers C travel into said space. The illustratedmeans for tilting said carriers comprise idler rollers 97 whichpreferably are loosely mounted on a shaft and areal ranged in suchposition that when a loaded carrier reaches the same, its lower end willbe caused to move backward until its fingers 1 tend to force ,the barrelrearward. Mean Y while, however, the carrier has not been wholly freedfrom the weight of the barrel and as its upper .end continues to movedownward and forward around the sprocket, it follows that the carrier istilted rearward from its upper end until the barrel is deposited on thebars and the rollers 97. The bars 95 being in a plane higher than theplane of the upper surfaces ofrthe rollers 97, as shown in Fig.f13, thebarrel, when it reaches the position where it is .engaged therewith, isfree to roll by gravity onto the skid 95 by which it is quickly carriedoff out of the path of, the carriers 0. These carriers C when freed fromthe barrel are caused to move toward the front, behind the barrel, orother package which they have discharged along the skid 95 until theirarms '72 strike obstructions 'or'buffers- 98' which straighten them outfor their upward passage, with the chain ina vertically pendantposition. It will be noted that this disehar ing platform permits thedischarge ofthe package at the lower extremity. of the -de-. liveringsection, below the sprockets of saidsection, and effects such dischargeautomatically and with absolute certainty.

' i/Vhen the system is arranged for unloading vessels it may be possiblein some cases to use-the loading platform F but it is de-. sirable toprovide a means which will deliver the packages to the carrier C, otherthan the loading platform referred to,.to' be used in'lieu of thelatter. This means is preferably carried by and forms a part of theframe E, hereinbefore described. As

shown best in Figs. 11' and 15 the frame.

shown, made of angle iron and pivotally mounted upon a shaft 111, orotherwise suitably supported to yield upward, and

resting upon a transverse support 112. Associated with these arms areother arms, 113, which are herein shown as fixed. The barrel or' otherpackage to be transported is placed upon the arms 110, 110, 113, 113,and is picked up therefrom by the carrier C, whose cross member 7 3travels in the space between the front ends of the arms 110 and 113 andwhose fingers 74 are in such position that they alternate with the arms110 and 113 when they are contiguous thereto. In order to adapt thisplatform to operate with either of its ends presented to the ascendingruns of the conveying elements it is preferably provided with a like setof pivoted arms, marked 114, and fixed arms, marked 115, at the oppositeside of its transverse support from that upon which the arms firstmentioned are arranged. As here shown the arms 113 and 115 havedownwardly beveled upper faces and are secured to the standard 59.

The loading and unloading operation of the conveyer will it is thoughtbe fully un derstood and its manifold advantages and completepracticability as a ship-loader and unloader fully comprehended withoutfurther description. \Vhen the conveyer is not in use it may be stored,either upon the dock or upon the vessel in a compact space by liftingits sections 200 and 300 and turning them down on the frame D, orotherwise disposing of them, where they will be out of the way. Theframe D is preferably, though not essentially of a portable nature.

Having now described the invention what I believe to be new and desireto secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a conveyer, the combination of a frame having upper and lowertracks at each side, an endless traveler engaging the upper and lowertracks at one side throughout a part of its length, a second endlesstraveler engaging the upper and lower tracks at the other side ofthe-frame, said travelers being of length greater than the frame andhaving their end portions depending from the ends of the latter, packageearriers arranged between the travelers and suspended from the latter,the said carriers being pivotally connected at their upper ends with thetravelers and having their lower ends provided with package-carryingportions which project forward and rearward from the plane of thetravelers, means whereby the-endless travelers at one end of theconveyer are weighted to take up slack therein, the latter ends of thetravelers being unsupported, and means connected to the frame andengaging the travelers and imparting movement to the latter, comprisingseparate driving gears respectively engaging the working and returningruns of the travelers, a common power shaft and separate gearingsbetween the power shaft and the driving gears arranged to drive thelatter simultaneously in directions one the re verse of the other and atsubstantially the same speed.

2. In a conveyer, the combination of a frame having upper and lowertracks at each side, an endless traveler engaging the upper and lowertracks at one side throughout a part of its length, a second endlesstraveler engaging the upper and lower tracks at the other side of theframe, said travelers being of length greater than the frame and havingtheir end portions depending from the ends of the latter, packagecarriers arranged between the travelers and suspended from the latter,the said carriers being pivotally connected at their upper ends with thetravelers and having their lower ends provided with package-carryingportions which project forward and rearward from the plane of thetravelers, means whereby the endless travelers at one end of theconveyer are weighted to take up slacl: therein, the latter ends of thetravelers being unsupported, and means connected to the frame andengaging the travelers and imparting movement to the latter, comprisinga common power shaft having a plurality of gears, gears engaging one runof the travelers, other gears movable in the same direction as thelatter gears, and respectively in termeshed with certain of the gears onthe power shaft, gears engaging the other runs of the travelers, gearsmovable with and in the same direction as the last mentioned gears andhaving an intermediate driving connection to the remaining gears on thepower shaft, the several gears being proportioned and thus arranged todrive the working and returning runs of the travelers simultaneously andat the same speed in cirections one the reverse of the other.

3. A ship loader or unloader comprising an endless traveling conveyerguided to provide an intermediate section and sections de pending fromthe ends thereof, said conveyer having pivotally-suspendedpackagecarriers, 'a loading device supported in operative relation withone of said end sections, said loading device being provided with meansfor supporting packages in the path of the package-carriers and arrangedto be moved on its support with swinging movement of said section, thelatter having traveling movement relatively to said device and extendingbelow said device and being freely suspended.

4. In a ship loader or unloader, the combination with an endlesstraveling conveying means provided with pivotally suspended packagecarriers said conveying means having a suspended section,rof amovablysupported platform arranged above .the lower end of thesuspendedsection and having; package-supporting elements operatwelvrelated to the package carriers, the

platform having means through which the suspended section travels to aplace below having means through which the suspended section travels toa place below the packagesupporting elements of the platform and whichmeans guides the suspended section,

and said suspended section having means separate from the platformlatter for weighting it. t

6. In a conveyor, a carrier, endless traveling means supporting the sameand subject to swinging movement, and means for depositing packages onthe carrier, mounted for movement bodily on its support and havingspaces through which the endless means andthe'carrier are free to traveland parts in the path of swinging movement of the endless 'means forvcausing it to be moved bodily thereby.

7. A ship loader or, unloader, comprising a traveling conveying meanshaving a suspended section, and a means through which the same travels,having elements in the and below the path of swinging movements thereofand package supporting elements operatlvely-related thereto, the'lattermeans being free to move on its support and having elements forsupporting a package in the path of travel of the conveying'means. i

--8. A ship loader or unloader, comprising a traveling conveying meanshaving a suspended section, and a means through which the same travels,having guiding'elements therefor and package supporting elementsoperatively related thereto said meansbeing adapted tobe supportedby'the dock, barge,

lighter or the like, from or to which the ship isbeing loaded orunloaded,and being free to move on such support with the swingingmovements of the ship. I

- 9. A movably supported loading platform toward each other fromopposite sides of the frame and guiding elements at the ends of theframe, combined with a convever comprising endless traveling side members guided to provide a suspended section whose sides travel throughthe guides on the movable frame'and carriers pivotally supportedwby andarranged between the side members of;the 'conveyer, said carrier havingspaced package-supporting fingers which extend in oppositedirections'therefrom and pass between the arms of the" loading table: Y

10. In a ship loader, the combination of a movably supported loadingplatform and atraveling conveyer. having endless travfeling members andpackage-carriers provided with spaced fingers, the movable platformcomprising a frame having channels through which the endless-members ofthe conveyor travel and also having arms for supporting'the packages inthe path of the carriers, whereby the conveyer is movable relatively tothe platform and the platform partakes of-Iswinging'movement of theconveyer. f p i 11. The-combination, with an endless travelingmeans,having carriers providedwith side members pivotally suspended from theendless means and spaced package supporting fingersw extending forwardlyand rearwardly from the lower ends of said side' members, of a platformhaving setsof spaced arms which are arranged below. the endless meansand throughwhich the'fing rs'of the. carriers travelwhile-passing fromtheir descending to their ascending course, the arrangement of the armsbelow the endless means being at a distance from' the latterle'ss thanthe length of the pivotally suspended side members of the carriers. 1 1z 12. The combination with an endless trav eling means comprising spacedside ,chains and carriers arranged between said chains andcomprisingside arms whose upper: ends are. pivoted to said chains andwhose lower 'ends are connected with each otherand pro-o videdwith-spaced package-supporting fin gers extending forwardly andrearwardlyi,

therefrom, ofva platform provided with wheels around whichthe endless'ohainsof the conveyor pass, saldplatform also having sets ofspaced armswhich are arranged belowsaid wheels and through wlllcll tllejf fingersof the carriers travel wh le passing around said .w'heels thearrangement of the armsibelow the wheels being'at' a distance fromthelatter less-than the length ofthe side arms of the carrier.

13.: Thecombination with a loading'fram e,

wheels supported thereby and spaced apart,"

p sets ofspaced arms supported byIsa-idframe for ship loaders, comprlsmga frame, two sets of pivotallv supported arms promoting of; the wheels,of a pair of endless travelers "which respectively extend around saidwheels and within said guides, and carriers supported by saidtravelersand arranged between the same, each of said carriers comprisingside arms whose upper ends are pivoted to the travelers and whose lowerends are connected with each other and provided with package-carryingfingers which extend in opposite directions, the arrangement of theeling package-conveying means, having sus-- pended carriers providedwith spaced package-supporting fingers, a loading platform havingstandards, wheels borne there by and arranged at the end of thereceiving section of the endless means and engaglng the same, spacedpackage-supporting elements extending in opposite directions from thestandards, and spaced package-supporting arms extending toward saidelements from the ends of the frame, said arms and elements beingarranged below the wheels and cooperating to deliver the packages to thecarriers.

15. In combination with an endless traveling package-conveying means,havingsuspended carriers provided vith spaced package-supportingfingers, a loading platform having standards, wheels borne thereby andarranged at the end of the receiving section of theendless means andengaging the same, spaced package-supporting elements extending inopposite directions from the standards, and spaced. package-supportingarms extending toward said elements from the ends of the frame, saidarms and elements being arranged below the wheels and cooperating todeliver the packages to the carriers, said arms being pivoted to yieldin the direction of travel of the carriers. 7

16.111 a conveyer, a carrier, endless traveling means from which thecarrier is pivotally suspended, the carrier having spacedpackage-supporting fingers extending in 'opposite directions from aplace below its pivots, and means arranged below the endless means andin the path of the i'ngers for causing the carrier to tilt on saidpivots and discharge its lead in its travel thereby.

17. In a 'conveyer, a carrier, endless traveling means from which thecarriercis pivotallysuspended, the carrier having spacedpackage-supporting fingers extending in opposite directions from a placebelow its pivots, means for tilting the carrier on said pivots, arrangedbelow the endless means and in the path of the fingers, and a receivercomprising spaced bars arranged approxi mately in the plane of saidfingers when the carrier is tilted, so as to receive the packagetherefrom without shock,

18. In a conveyer, a receiver having package receiving elements one ofwhich is ar ranged rearward of the other with a space between them, incombination with an endless traveling means arranged above thepackage-receiving elements and having pivotally suspended carriers whichtravel in the space between said package-receiving elements whilepassing from their descending to their ascending course, and meansarranged adjacent to said space and in the path of said carriers fortilting them while they are passing from their descending course totheir ascending course. i

19. In a conveyer, an inclined packagereceiver, comprising two membersarranged one in advance 0; the other with a space between them, one ofsaid members being in a higher plane than the other, in combination withan endless traveler arranged above the package receiver carriersprovided with arms whose upper ends are pivoted to said traveler andwhose lower ends are provided with spaced pacl'sage-supporting fingersprojecting forward and rearward therefrom, the distance between thereceiver and the lower end of the endless traveling means being lessthan the length of said arms and the space between said members of there ceiver being arranged to receive the arms of the carriers when thelatter are at their lower limit of travel the receiver being providedwith openings through which the carrier-fingers can travel, and meansarranged adjacent to said space and in the path of travel of saidcarriers for tilting them when they are insaid space. a

20. In a conveyer, a wheel, a receiver having package-receiving membersarranged below said wheel and one in advance of the other with a spacebetween them, in combination with an endless traveler which passesaround said wheel, carriers provided with arms whose upper ends arepivoted to said traveler and whose lower ends are provided with spacedpackagesupporting fingers which project forward and rearward therefrom,the distance between the package-receiving members and the wheel *beingless than the length of the arms of the carriers and the space betweensaid members being arranged to receive the arms of the carriers whilethe latter are traveling around the lower circumferential portion of thewheel, the receiver having openings through which the carrier fingerscan travel, and means arranged adjacent to said space and in the path oftravel of said carriers for tilting them when they are in said space.

21. In a conveyor, an endless traveling means, a carrier pivotallysuspended therefrom, a receiver having elements arranged means mountedin said space, the parts bemg so Correlated that the carrier will betilted and its. load depositedon' the receiver while the'carrier istraveling from the worklng to the returning s de of the conveyer.:

22. In a conveyer, "an endless traveling I from and having spacedpackage-support'- ing fingers, a frame, wheels borne by the means, acarrier pivotally suspended therefrom and provided with" spaced ackagecarrying fingers, spaced inclined ars' arranged below the endlesstraveling means, bars arranged rearward of the inclined bars and spacedfrom the ends ofthe latter, the parts so arranged that the carrier willtravel into the space between the ends, 0f the inclined and rearwardbars,and means for inclining the lower end of the carrier toward therearward bars and causing the discharge of the load onto the bars.

28. In a conveyer, an endless traveling means, a carrier pivotallysuspended therefrom and provided with spaced packagecarrying fingers,spaced inclined bars arranged below the endless traveling means,

bars arranged rearward of the inclined bars and spaced from the ends ofthe latter, the parts so arranged that the carrier will travel into thespace between the ends of the inclined and rearward bars, spaced wheelsmounted in the space between said inclined and rearward bars and adaptedto cause the lower end of thepackage carrier to move rearward and engagethe package with the rearward bars and discharge thesame upon theinclined bars.

24. In a conveyer, an endless traveling means, a carrier pivotallysuspended there from and provided with spaced packagecarrying fingers,spaced inclined bars arranged below the endless traveling means, barsarranged rearward of the inclined. bars and spaced from the ends of thelatter, the parts so arranged that the carrier will travel nto the spacebetween the ends of the inclined and rearward bars, spaced wheelsmounted in the space between said inclined and rearward bars and adaptedto cause thelower end of the package carrier to move rearward and engagethe package with the rearward bars and discharge the same upon theinclined bars, said inclined bars being disposed in the path of travelof the carrier from the working to the returning side of the conveyer,and means adjacent to said returning side for causing the carrier toresume its vertical position.

25. In a conveyer, an endless traveling means, a carrier pivotallysuspended therefrom, a receiver arranged below the endless travelingmeans and adapted to convey packages ofl" therefrom, means for tiltingthe carrier to cause the discharge of its load upon the receiver whenthe upper end of saidf'carrier reaches a position slightly in advanceofits lowermost position of travel, said receiver being arranged in thepath of travel of the carrier when the latter is inclined, and stopforcausing the carrier toresume its perpendicular position adjacent to.the returning side of the conveyer. "26'. Ina conveyer, an endlesstraveling means, a carrier" pivotally suspended thereframe and engagingthe endless means, forward and rearward spaced bars mounted on the framebelow said wheels, "the forward bars being spaced from the rearward barsand the space being so'located that the carrier will travel thereinto,and means for inclijning the carrier to cause the packag'etobe'dischargedupon the bars when the carrier reaches said space.

27. In a conveyor, an endless traveling means, a carrier pivotallysuspended there from and having spaced package-supporting fingers,aframe, wheels borne by the frame and engaging theendless means, forwardand rearward spaced bars mounted on the frame below said wheels, theforward bars being spaced from the rearward bars and the space being solocated that the carrier will travel thereinto, and means for incliningthe carrier to cause the package to be discharged upon the bars when thecarrier reaches said space, the forward bars inclined to carry thepackage off. j

28; An unloading platform for conveyers having spaced forward bars andspaced rearward bars spaced from the forward bars, and a carrier'tiltingmeans arranged adjacent to the (space between the forward and rearwardbars, in combination with an endless traveling conveyer having packagecarriers provided with arms whose upper ends are pivoted to the conveyerand whose lower ends are provided with sets of forwardly and rearwardlyprojecting fingers arranged to travel between the bars of the receiver,said carriers being also arranged to travel in the space between saidbars and having their armsof a length less than the distance of thecarrier-tilting means from the lower end of the conveyer, thecarrier-tilting means bemg arranged to engage the carriers while thelatter are passing from the1r descending to their ascending course oftravel.

which said traveling means and carrier are,

free to travel, said platform being free to be moved bodily by movementof the traveling 'means beyond predetermined limits, and

having package-supporting arms alternatmg with the fingers of thecarrier, on each

